2015 Abstract Book - Mountain Lion Research Day

Abstract Book

Gallogly Events Center

UCCS Campus

Mountain Lion Research Day Schedule ... 2

Schedule of Student Talks ... 3

Welcome to the 2015 UCCS Mountain Lion Research Day ... 4

Abstracts ... 5

Student Speakers ... 5

Marketing, Strategy and International Business ... 5

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ... 5

Biology ... 5

Chemistry and Biochemistry... 6

History ... 7

Psychology ... 8

Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences ... 9

Health Sciences ... 9

Nursing ... 13

College of Business ... 15

Marketing, Strategy and International Business ... 15

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences ... 18

Electrical and Computer Engineering ... 18

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ... 18

College of Education ... 22

Curriculum and Instruction... 22

College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences ... 23

Anthropology ... 23

Biology ... 23

Chemistry and Biochemistry... 25

English... 29

Geography and Environmental Studies ... 32

Physics ... 33

Psychology ... 33

School of Public Affairs ... 35

Undergraduate Research Academy ... 39

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ... 39

Anthropology ... 40 Biology ... 40 Physics ... 40 Psychology ... 41 Centers ... 43 Biofrontiers ... 43

Trauma, Health and Hazards Center ... 43

Featured Speakers ... 50

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Mountain Lion Research Day Schedule

Presenter Registration

Gallogly

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Poster Presentations

Gallogly

8:30-11:30 a.m.

Posters are available for viewing all morning

Student Talks

University Center, 116 A & B

8:30-11:00 a.m.

Student speakers will give talks

throughout the morning. See next page for details.

Welcome & Featured Speaker

Gallogly

8:55 – 9:15 a.m.

Jane Rigler

Multiple Potentialities of Performance and Research

Featured Speaker

Gallogly

10:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Tom Pyszczynski

Terror Management Theory and Morality: The Role of Death, Religion, and Our Conception of God

Featured Speaker

Gallogly

11:00 – 11:15 a.m.

Matt Metzger

Category persistence through varied role enactments: The curious survival of travel agents (1994-2010)

Luncheon Welcome

Inventor of the Year Award

Berger Hall

11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Kelli Klebe

Keynote Speaker

Berger Hall

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Thomas Duening

Perspiration Authenticates Inspiration: Tips from a Blue-Collar Writer

Sponsored by the Office of Research, Graduate School,

and the El Pomar Institute for Innovation and

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Schedule of Student Talks

Time University Center, room 116A University Center, room 116B

8:30-8:40 a.m.

Morgan Pinto

Integration of the alpha-amylase gene into single and high-copy number loci within the Saccharomyces diastaticus genome to elicit a high degradation efficiency on a unique starch source

Rochelle Richards-Burks

Regardless of Race, Color, Sex, Age, or National or Cultural Origins, or Sexual Preference: The Emergence, Codification, and Divergence of the American Witchcraft Movement

8:45-8:55 a.m.

Kathryn Prescott

A Novel Approach to Modeling the

Absorption Spectra and Colloidal Stability of Few- and Single-Chirality

Jennifer Broderick

Creating Her Own Destiny: Challenging Societal Norms within Medieval Prostitution

9:20-9:30 a.m.

Hannah Ryan

Computational Studies on the Substrate Binding of Human MTH1 Protein

Lindsey Duncan

An Endeavor at Civility: White Southern Women in the Civil War

9:35-9:45 a.m.

Daniel Forand

RNA-binding proteins regulate dendrite morphogenesis in C. elegans

Nicholas Christian

Electron Beam Lithography: Implementation and Applications at UCCS

10:20-10:30 a.m.

Thomas Amundson

Characterization of Heat Transfer in Lepidoptera for Use in Biomimicry

Maryanne Fisco

How is CEO Personality Related to Passion for the Green Movement?

10:35-10:45 a.m.

Brandon Patz

Azeotropic Volatility Behavior of Hydrous Ethanol Gasoline Mixtures

Nathan Baumann

Depressive symptomology in undergraduate students

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Welcome to the 2015 UCCS Mountain Lion Research Day

It is our pleasure to welcome you to Mountain Lion Research Day. This event is held annually to showcase the best and brightest research from UCCS faculty, staff and students.

The objectives of Mountain Lion Research Day are to:

1. Create an opportunity to connect colleagues and community members through a unique networking event,

2. Exhibit the breadth and depth of exciting research being conducted at UCCS, and

3. Provide a venue for campus researchers, students in particular, to gain experience presenting and explaining their work to a diverse audience.

We are grateful to the UCCS faculty, staff and students who are presenting at this year’s Mountain Lion Research Day for their preparation and hard work. We invite our visitors and guests to enjoy and discover!

The El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC) Dr. Terry Boult

Chair of Innovation and Security

Dr. Tom Duening Chair of Business and

Entrepreneurship

Dr. Michael Larson Chair of Engineering and

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Abstracts

*Posters represent the research of UCCS faculty, staff, and students and external collaborators (E.C.)

Student Speakers

Marketing, Strategy and International Business

How is CEO Personality Related to Passion for the Green Movement? Maryanne Fisco

Western society is growing increasingly supportive of the “Green Movement.” CEOs, as leaders of their companies, have a great deal of discretion in setting the priorities for their organizations. However, CEOs of different companies also possess different values, preferences and individual characteristics which are reflected in their personality differences. In this study, I examine CEOs personality differences and develop hypotheses about how differences in their Big Five personality traits may affect their preferences for green movement initiatives in their companies. I use a thin slice approach, though behavioral observation of publicly available CEO videos clips, and established psychometric rating scales, to assist in measuring CEOs’ personalities. Using a dictionary of sustainability-related terms, I perform a text analysis of company 10-K filings, annual reports, and letters to shareholders to identify the frequency of terms connected with sustainability and the green

movement. Using this approach, I investigate the relationship between CEO personality and the level of passion for the green movement. I also investigate which specific personality traits may foster a higher level of passion and loyalty for following more environmentally sustainable strategies for business.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Characterization of Heat Transfer in Lepidoptera for Use in Biomimicry Thomas R. Amundson and Rebecca N. Webb

Increasing energy demands and decreasing fossil fuel reserves require that reliable and innovative technological advancements in renewable energy collection are made. This body of work intends to use

biomimicry of microstructures in butterfly wings (specifically Archeoprepona meander) to improve performance in concentrated solar collection technology. The research objective of this work is to test the hypothesis that the performance of a concentrated solar power receiver is enhanced through the addition of appropriately designed micro and/or nanoscale structures to its surface. The micro and nanoscale structures on the wing surface of Archeoprepona meander will be characterized and used to design new structures in such a way that the surface mimics the almost perfect radiation absorption of butterfly wings.

Biology

RNA-binding proteins regulate dendrite morphogenesis in C. elegans

Daniel Forand, Simona Antonacci, Darrell J. Killian (E.C.), Eugenia C. Olesnicky

Neurons have complex morphology which allows for responding to, integrating, and propagating signals. Dendrites are key to establishing sensory fields and the synaptic connections that control cognition, behavior, and adaptive responses to the environment. A growing body of evidence highlights mRNA transport and local translational control as key processes in generating dendritic branches, maintaining cell structure, and promoting synaptic plasticity. Therefore it is important to investigate the role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which are involved in mRNA processing, transport, localization, stability, and translational control, in the regulation of dendrite form and function.

6 Olesnicky et al. (2014) conducted a genetic screen of the Drosophila genome and found 63 RBPs

required for normal dendrite morphology in dendritic arborization (da) sensory neurons. An in silico analysis revealed 54 homologous genes in C. elegans. To test the hypothesis that conserved RBPs may regulate dendrite morphology in diverse animal species, we screened these 54 RBP-encoding genes in C. elegans for dendrite defects in the PVD sensory neuron.

Our screen identified 12 conserved RBP-encoding genes that produce a reduction in terminal dendrite branches upon loss or reduction of gene function. To determine how and when this reduction happens, we performed a time-course analysis. Further experiments confirmed that these genes are expressed in the PVD neuron and the subcellular localization of each RBP was determined. Taken together, our results highlight a fundamental role for conserved RBPs in dendrite morphogenesis.

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Integration of the alpha-amylase gene into single and high-copy number loci within the Saccharomyces diastaticus genome to elicit a high degradation efficiency on a unique starch source

Morgan Pinto, Wendy Haggren, and Sonja Braun-Sand

The yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been used extensively to ferment ethanol from glucose derived from starchy field crops, in particular corn, a crop used primarily for human consumption and farm animal feedstock. We propose to use a unique starch source, the Buffalo Gourd root, to serve as a feedstock for yeast fermentations. The Buffalo gourd is not utilized for human consumption or animal feedstock, thrives in arid desert-like conditions, and grows roots dedicated to immense storage of carbohydrates. A different strain of yeast, S. diastaticus, which naturally contains the starch digestive enzyme, glucoamylase, will be genetically modified to contain variable copy numbers of the alpha-amylase starch digestive enzyme to increase starch breakdown efficiency.

A Novel Approach to Modeling the Absorption Spectra and Colloidal Stability of Few- and Single-Chirality Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Kathryn Prescott and Kevin Tvrdy

Semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have long been known to exhibit chirality-dependent, tunable bandgaps with narrow absorption and emission line widths in the visible and infrared region of the spectrum, with center wavelength positions correlating roughly with nanotube diameter due to two-dimensional quantum confinement effects. The technique of amide gel based adsorption and desorption has afforded the ability to separate preparative quantities of semiconducting SWNT into single- and few-chirality samples. Determining the purity and stability of separation based on this method is of utmost importance in understanding and improving the efficiency and breadth of gel-based SWNT separation. This work focuses on the development of a model to fit semiconducting SWNT absorbance spectra with a series of Lorentzian

lineshapes, coupled with a linear combination of exponential background components. The model incorporates contributions from high energy phonon sidebands, as well as low energy sidebands, shown to be present for each unique chirality. The presence and concentration of specific chiralities are confirmed using a multi-region cross fitting technique. In addition, the stability of colloidal suspension of few- and single-chirality samples over time and through ultracentrifugation is modeled using the Lamm equation.

Computational Studies on the Substrate Binding of Human MTH1 Protein Hannah Ryan, Megan Bultema, Sonja Braun Sand, James Stewart

The MutT Homolog 1 (MTH1) protein hydrolyzes oxidized nucleotide bases thus preventing their

incorporation into DNA. This sanitizing of the dNTP pool is important for cell survival. The MTH1 mechanism is of particular interest in cancer cells, because inhibiting MTH1 may induce premature senescence and a consequent reduction in cancer cell growth. Although the structure of this protein is published, it is not known how the nucleotide shows specificity for its oxidized nucleotide ligand, 8-oxo-dGMP. In the present work, we examine the 8-oxo-dGMP specificity of MTH1 compared to binding of the non-oxidized nucleotide dGMP. We modeled the MTH1 protein with oxidized and non-oxidized nucleotides using PM7 in MOPAC 2012. This allowed a comparison

7 of the energetics of the various systems, and resulted in a description of the specific interactions that are

responsible for binding. The results of this work will inform further structural studies of MTH1 and could provide a platform for selective targeting of this protein.

History

Creating Her Own Destiny: Challenging Societal Norms within Medieval Prostitution Jennifer Broderick

This paper examines medieval prostitution within the twelfth to fifteenth centuries, a time when prostitution was actively changing and redefining the social construction of sexuality and women during the Middle Ages. The region that this paper focuses on is that of Languedoc in France; along with its two cities of Toulouse and Montpellier. Avignon, which is a township, also contributed to the discussion. These areas present a picture of not only the profession of prostitution and the women involved, but also the resulting reform that took place and its effects on reformed prostitutes.

This paper attempts to prove that there was more to these women than their profession and that because of this, they became unique examples of what women could do with their lives—given a chance. During this time, when women were denied basic freedoms, there were a few who, although living in the clutches of a morally wrong profession, strived to rise above their station to persevere and ultimately better themselves in a completely different and unexpected societal area—the convents. These women successfully embraced and thrived within their newfound religious life, creating a new kind of medieval woman: one who controlled her destiny and went against social norms. This paper uses examples from the aforementioned cities, as well as examinations into various primary sources which follow a medieval prostitute from her time in a brothel to a possible marriage to a perceived wealthy man.

An Endeavor at Civility: White Southern Women in the Civil War Lindsey Duncan

In the South, traditions, expectations, and values permeated society for generations. With the invasion of the Union Army, inherent friction existed between tradition and change. Many white women in the

Confederate South faced daily difficulties in their desire to maintain their old way of life in the midst of overwhelming and comprehensive change. The women who wrote about their wartime ordeal proved that despite the location, age, and socio-economic status of the writer, women attempted to preserve the past while remaining flexible due to the unforeseen circumstances of war. Indeed, the evidence provided through these personal diaries demonstrated the juxtaposition of the chaos of war with the peace of the ordinary prevalent in each of the women’s lives. Despite the trials white women endured, they did not lose hope in the Confederate cause; furthermore, their endeavor at civility exhibited the struggle to uphold Southern Honor in the midst of modern warfare.

Regardless of Race, Color, Sex, Age, or National or Cultural Origins, or Sexual Preference: The Emergence, Codification, and Divergence of the American Witchcraft Movement

Rochelle Richards-Burks

A thriving Witchcraft community has emerged in the United States as a postmodern spiritual response to mainstream religious movements. Originating in the cultural crucible of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and 70s, American Witchcraft has evolved from a fringe religious experiment to the fastest growing spiritual tradition in the United States. In order to facilitate discourse and a greater acceptance of Witchcraft as a valid spiritual practice, it is necessary to provide credible analysis of the origins of American Witchcraft as a distinct reflection of the experience of Witches involved in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Amongst the variety of Civil Rights Movements circulating through the United States in the 1960s and 70s, 2nd Wave Feminist Goddess Spirituality exerted the most inspirational and lasting effect on American Witchcraft as it evolved into a syncretism of anti-patriarchal Goddess Spirituality and postmodern British Witchcraft. The result is a democratized American Witchcraft community, dedicated to taking a purposeful stance of complete acceptance of participant diversity and characterized by its acceptance of individuality and highly personalized

8 spiritual traditions. Analysis of primary source texts and their relationship to The 13 Principles of Wiccan Belief (1974) illustrate the divergence of American Witchcraft from its British genesis, informing the cultural

sensibilities of Witches in the United States.

Psychology

Depressive symptomology in undergraduate students

Nathan L Baumann, BA, Steven Jarrel, BA, & Leilani Feliciano, PhD

Recent research suggests a disturbing increase in mental health problems among our nation’s youth (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010; Twenge & Foster, 2010); a finding that extends to college-age students as well (lifetime prevalence rates over 50%; Vazquez, Torres, Otero, & Diaz, 2011). Of these mental health problems, depression is the most common and well-studied. In a metaanalysis by Ibrahim, Kell, Adams, and Glazebrook (2012), the prevalence rates of depressive symptoms in university studies ranged from 10% - 85%, with a weighted average of 30.6%. This is much higher than the twelve month MDD prevalence rate of 7% found in community dwelling adults reported in the DSM-5 (APA, 2013), or the lifetime prevalence rate of 16.6% for MDD reported when using DSM -IV (APA, 2000) criteria (Kessler et al., 2005). In this study, undergraduate psychology students at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) took the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; Spitzer et. al., 1999) online at UCCS. Demographic variables such as gender, race, income, education level, and marriage status, religion, and whether or not the participant was seeking psychological services were also gathered. Participants included 335 undergraduate students (Mage = 22.22, SD = 6.49, range 18-54) currently taking a psychology class at UCCS. Analysis revealed that 24.6% of the sample scored 10 or higher on the PHQ-9. These findings suggest that universities may need to take a more proactive approach to helping students adjust to college life and either increase or improve access to available resources.

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Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Health Sciences

Age differences in push-up performance amongst male law enforcement officers Brittany Brandt and Robin Conroy

The 1-minute push-up test is an assessment frequently used amongst law enforcement officers to measure upper-body muscular endurance. According to the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research (2006) this assessment is predictive of the ability to perform essential job tasks for law enforcement officers in most cases. Consequently, this assessment is frequently used by law enforcement agencies as part of their pre-hire selection process, as well as in volunteer fitness programs. However, at this time it is unclear whether there are significant differences in performance for this measure amongst officers of different ages. Therefore the purpose of this research is to determine whether their significant difference in push-up performance amongst male law enforcement officers of different ages. Methods: Archival data on the 1-minute push-up assessment for 518 male law enforcement officers from two different law enforcement agencies was provided to the primary investigator for analysis. Statistical Analysis: Collected data will be entered into a computer file suitable for statistical analysis using the SPSS 22.0 software package. A descriptive statistical analysis will be conducted to determine mean push-up scores for officers in each age category. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with appropriate post-hocs will also be used to compare mean differences in push-up performance amongst officers in different age categories. Results and conclusions will be discussed.

Impact of Coconut Oil on Appetite, Satiety, and Gastric Processes in Postmenopausal Women Jamie Fernandez, Margaret Harris

Virgin coconut oil (CO) is metabolized quicker than other oils. Few cases report CO allergies. Some practitioners recommend 2-4 Tablespoons of CO/day for health benefits. Side effects from this amount of oil are unexplored. This analysis compares side effects of CO and high oleic safflower oil (SO). A mixed-methods analysis examined data from a randomized cross-over clinical trial of 12 postmenopausal females. Participants consumed either CO or SO for 28 days without altering normal diet with a 28 day washout. Surveys were given at each testing period. Qualitative analyses of survey comments were categorized by theme and compared to identify relationships. One subject showed an intolerance to CO. SO showed fewer gastric issues than CO. About 30% of subjects experienced an initial increase in gas after CO that disappeared when they incorporated the oils slowly. Improved skin softness was notable with CO compared to SO (+67% vs +15%, p=0.03). About 30% reported decreased cravings and appetite on both oils. Though 39% of participants reported feeling heavier while using SO, there was no meaningful weight change with either oil. Participants reported feeling more satiated with CO though had a smaller appetite on SO. We conclude that allergy/intolerance to CO is possible. Negative side effects are minimized with slow oil consumption. To our knowledge, this is the first study

exploring side effects of CO in a Caucasian US population. Additional research on appetite & satiety is needed to determine whether CO is helpful in attaining weight loss goals.

Fall prevention exercises can be beneficial to a variety of ages in adults Patricia H Fryc, Mary Ann Kluge PhD

Purpose: To assess fall risk and improve balance among men and women through functional exercises in order to prevent falls.

Methods: The N’Balance program includes functional assessments to determine the individuals’ lower body strength, gait, posture, vision dependency, and vestibular disproportions. The program consists of pre- and post- assessments with a 6- week intervention. Twenty-five individuals participated in this study (4 men, 21women); eight individuals have missing data. Pre-assessments determined where improvements could be made for each individual. At the end of the 6- week program, post- assessments were performed and measured for comparison. The 6-week fall prevention intervention was one-time per week, 60 minutes per session. Classes consisted of a warm up, balance and agility exercises following the N’Balance protocol, and a cool down. A health history and a balance confidence questionnaire were also distributed and analyzed pre-post.

10 Results: Lower body strength, vestibular disproportions, and balance deficits were found in adults 38 to 60. These findings were unexpected as most fall risk assessments and fall prevention classes are recommended for individuals 60+ years of age. Improvements for the entire group were mainly seen in the timed up and go, single leg balance, and chair stands.

Conclusion: It is widely known that older adults struggle with maintaining balance and agility. This study supports findings that, not only older adults, but also younger adults can benefit from balance and agility programs to minimize fall risks.

A Secondary Analysis of the Impact of Coconut and Safflower Oils on Body Fat Composition Lisa Fryda, Andrea Hutchins, Margaret Harris

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of coconut oil (CO) and safflower oil (SO) on body fat composition. METHODS: This was a crossover clinical trial where postmenopausal women (aged 45-65) were randomized to either a CO or SO diet (28 days), had a washout for 28 days, and then

incorporated the other oil (28 days). Participants were measured for body weight, hip and waist circumference. DXA was used to determine fat percentage at all four testing dates. Women also recorded 28 days of food. Data were analyzed with SPSS using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and mixed model ANOVA. The

intervention sequence was not determined to be significant using repeated measures mixed ANOVA. Therefore, paired t-tests were conducted, and being used, to determine differences in pre and post oil supplementation on the all body composition variables. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in any anthropometric or DXA body composition variables between pre and post oil consumption. Differences in weight were seen between CO and SO where CO showed a 1 ± 1.7 lb weight gain and SO a 0.2 ± 2.0 lb decrease (p<0.05), although clinically these differences are not considered significant. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first study evaluating the impact of virgin coconut oil on body composition in Caucasian post menopausal women living in the US. These results support that coconut oil can be used as part of a healthy diet. More studies need to be done with larger sample sizes and diverse populations.

Age differences in vertical jump height amongst male law enforcement officers Adam Garner and Matt Marshall

Power is a physiological attribute that is essential in many tactical situations, such as when sprinting and dodging; lifting, carrying, siting or dragging a victim to safety; jumping and vaulting over obstacles of varying sizes; stair climbing and in use of force situations. The vertical jump is an assessment commonly performed to test explosive power of the lower body. According to the Cooper Institute of Aerobic Fitness (2006) the vertical jump is highly predictive of performing job-tasks in all cases for the law enforcement officer. However, at this time it is unclear whether there are significant differences in performance for this measure amongst officers of different ages. Therefore the purpose of this research is to determine if significant differences exist in vertical jump height performance amongst male law enforcement officers of different ages. Methods: Vertical jump height data for 528 male law enforcement officers from two different law enforcement agencies was provided to the primary investigator for analysis. Statistical Analysis: Collected data will be entered into a computer file suitable for statistical analysis using the SPSS 22.0 software package. A descriptive statistical analysis will be conducted to determine mean vertical jump height scores for officers in each age category. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with appropriate post-hocs will also be used to compare mean differences in vertical jump performance amongst officers in different age categories. Results and conclusions will be discussed.

The Impact of Virgin Coconut and Safflower Oils on Lipids and Cytokines in Postmenopausal Women Margaret Harris, Lisa Fryda, Andrea Hutchins

Twelve women were recruited for a randomized cross-over study. They consumed 30g virgin coconut oil (CO) or high-oleic safflower oil (SO) for 28 days (28-d washout period between oils, 28 d of food records). Diet was not altered. Lipids and cytokines (proinflammatory: IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α & anti-inflammatory: IL10) were obtained pre/post each oil intervention after 12-hr fast. Data were analyzed using SPSS. MIXED ANOVA showed no intervention effect. Comparisons were analyzed using paired t-test. CO significantly raised total cholesterol, TC (+17.0+22.0 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein, LDL (+12.1+16.0 mg/dL) & high-density lipoprotein, HDL (+6.3+7.1 mg/dL) (all p<0.05) but lowered triglycerides, TG (-8.6+32.1 mg/dL, p=NS). SO lowered TC (-5.2+15.7

11 mg/dL), LDL (-4.9 + 12.5 mg/dL), HDL (-1.9+5.3 mg/dL), and increased TG (+8.0+48.4) but changes were not significant. TC and HDL were significantly different between test oils, p<0.05. The TC/HDL ratio change showed a neutral effect of both CO and SO, Δ pre/post each= 0 mg/dL. Cytokines results varied. One person had adverse reactions to CO & increased inflammation. CO decreased IL-1β (cytokine indicative for neurological

degeneration) for each person who had a detected sample. CO and SO varied in impact on other cytokines individually, some showing increased inflammation, others decreasing inflammation, without consistency. Both CO & SO had neutral impacts on lipids. The varied nature of inflammatory markers suggest that there may be epigenetic interactions. More research needs to be conducted to evaluate LDL particle size. Larger sample sizes are needed to determine impact on cytokines before recommendations can be made.

Age differences in sit-up performance amongst male law enforcement officers Lizzie Heil and Liana Tobin

The 1-minute sit-up test is an assessment frequently used amongst law enforcement officers to measure muscular endurance of the trunk. According to the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research (2006) this

assessment is predictive of the ability to perform essential job tasks for law enforcement officers in most cases. Consequently, this assessment is frequently used by law enforcement agencies as part of their pre-hire selection process, as well as volunteer fitness programs. However, at this time it is unclear whether there are significant differences in performance for this measure amongst officers of different ages. Therefore the purpose of this research is to determine whether their significant difference in sit-up performance amongst male law

enforcement officers of different ages. Methods: Archival data on the 1-minute sit-up assessment for 526 male law enforcement officers from two different law enforcement agencies was provided to the primary investigator for analysis. Statistical Analysis: Collected data will be entered into a computer file suitable for statistical analysis using the SPSS 22.0 software package. A descriptive statistical analysis will be conducted to determine mean sit-up scores for officers in each age category. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with appropriate post-hocs will also be used to compare mean differences in sit-up performance amongst officers in different age categories. Results and conclusions will be discussed.

Self-Perception and the Effectiveness of the Functional Movement Screen in Adult Sara Kettelkamp, Mary Ann Kluge

How one’s current self and ideal self are perceived has a significant effect on self-efficacy toward physical activity (PA). Knowing that self-perceptions can improve after being exposed to a task could suggest that engaging in a functional assessment such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), may have a positive impact on self-perception. PURPOSE: This study was to determine if the FMS, a 7-item test of physical function, is suitable for the general population and if knowing the results has a positive impact on self-perception of physical abilities. METHOD: A 4 question pre-test of perceived flexibility, core stability, balance, and overall strength was administered to a convenience sample of 30 adults (age 20-77). After performing the FMS, scores were discussed in detail and a post-questionnaire was administered (same 4 initial questions plus a question about perceive benefits of the FMS). RESULTS: The average FMS score was 15 out of 21 with the hurdle step being lowest scored exercise overall (1.9). The highest percentage of asymmetries was in the shoulder mobility exercise (46%). Overall 96% of participants showed some change in self-perception with 46% showing a decrease and 29% showing an increase. 70% showed change in self-perception in more than one area questioned. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that nearly all participants showed some change in their self-perception (96%) with 83% expressing they believed the information given was beneficial. With self-self-perception being a factor in behavior change and PA it appears that the FMS provides feedback on functional abilities that is beneficial and potentially motivating to the general population.

Relationship between selected measures of fitness and performance on a physical agility test amongst law enforcement officers

Isaiah McFarland and Parker Wise

Physical Agility Tests (PAT’s) are frequently used by law enforcement agencies as a pre-employment selection test. Classically, these tests are designed to replicate general movement patterns or situations that may occur during police work, such as timed obstacle courses; running a set distance; climbing stairs, walls,

12 fences, ladders through windows and over barriers; jumping and/or vaulting over objects of various sizes; balancing or traversing high and low areas; carrying or pulling heavy objects to simulate victim rescues; vehicle pushes; simulated fight scenarios; and in some cases even swimming. These tasks may be performed separately, or combined as part of larger obstacle course. The purpose of this research is to determine if significant

relationships exist between selected measures of physical fitness and PAT performance amongst law

enforcement officers. METHODS: The following metrics for 87 male law enforcement officers were selected for descriptive and comparative purposes: anthropometric measures (body weight, height, Body mass index), muscular endurance (1 minute push-up and sit-up scores), muscular strength (Isometric leg/back dynomometer scores); aerobic fitness (Multi-Stage Fitness Test), and power (vertical jump height scores). Statistical Analysis: The provided data will be entered into a computer file suitable for statistical analysis using the SPSS 22.0

software package. A descriptive statistical analysis will be conducted to determine mean scores for each skinfold site and each measure of performance. A Pearson’s correlation will be utilized to determine if significant

relationships exist between selected measures of fitness and performance on a physical agility test amongst law enforcement officers. Results and discussion will be presented.

Normative data for the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT)amongst male law enforcement officers Tiana Perry

Aerobic power has been consistently identified in the literature as a predictor of performance for a variety of physically demanding occupations, such as law enforcement officers (CIAR, 2006; Lonsway, 2008; Roberts, O’Dea, Boyce, & Mannix, 2002; Rhodes & Farenholtz, 1992; Spitler et al, 1987; Stanish, Wood, & Camapgna, 1999), correctional officers, (Jamnick, Thomas, Shaw, and Gledhill, 2010) and firefighters (Perroni, Tessitore, Cortis, Lupo, D’Artibale, Cignitti, & Capranica, 2009). While not as commonly used as the 1.5 mile run, many law enforcement agencies are beginning to utilize the Multi-stage fitness test (MSFT) as another field test to measure aerobic fitness levels. This test requires the subjects to run between two 20 meter lines, while listening to pre-recorded sound signal. Participants are instructed to keep cadence with this sound signal until they are no longer physically able to maintain the set pace. However, at this time there is little information regarding normative data for this assessment within this community. Thus, the purpose of this study is to provide normative data related to the MSFT for male law enforcement officers. Results and conclusions will be discussed.

Relationship between selected skinfold measurements and fitness performance amongst male law enforcement officers

Claire Siekaniec and Andrea Vanderwoude

Physical fitness is a major concern in the law enforcement community. Thus, fitness assessments that may be used to predict performance in, critical physical job tasks in law enforcement include pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, dragging, jumping, vaulting, crawling, sprinting, use of force, and sustained pursuit. The Cooper Institute of Aerobic Fitness (2006), recommends a physical fitness battery for law enforcement officers that includes the vertical jump, 1RM Bench Press, 1 minute sit-ups and push-ups, 300 meter and 1.5 mile run. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between skinfold measurements and fitness

performance amongst male law enforcement officers. METHODS: The following metrics for 87 male law enforcement officers were selected for descriptive and comparative purposes: anthropometric measures (body weight, 3-site skinfold), muscular endurance (1 minute push-up and sit-up scores), muscular strength (1RM bench press scores); aerobic fitness (1.5 mile run times and estimated VO2 max), and anaerobic power (300 meter run and vertical jump height scores). Statistical Analysis: The provided data will be entered into a computer file suitable for statistical analysis using the SPSS 22.0 software package. A descriptive statistical analysis will be conducted to determine mean scores for each skinfold site and each measure of performance. A Pearson’s correlation will then be used to determine if significant relationships exist between specific skinfold sites and performance in each of the fitness assessments previously discussed. Results and discussion will be presented.

13 Motivations for Participation in Community Gardens

Sean Svette, Margaret Harris

The purpose of this study was to examine the motivations of individuals for choosing to participate in community gardens in Colorado Springs. This is a relevant topic for health science professionals because it has been shown to increase the physical and mental health of participants. This was a cross-sectional study design. Participation was solicited to community gardeners belonging to Pike Peak Urban Gardens (PPUG) by email. Voluntary participation telephone surveys were completed by 13 middle-aged adult community gardeners. The survey contained a mix of open-ended and multiple choice questions modeled in part after a study by Armstrong.1 _{Results were analyzed using mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative analyses using} SPSS V 22. Descriptive statistics and chi squares were used to determine differences in survey responses by gender. Qualitative comments were quantified then grouped into themes. Results showed that growing organic tasteful food, strengthening surrounding communities, and personal well being were among the central themes of motivation for participation in community gardens, though this differed by gender. This was the first study to be done examining people's motivations who participate in community gardens. This study was limited by a small homogenous population. More research needs to be done to determine gender motivations for gardening, and with a larger more diverse audience.

Hiring qualifications among certified athletic trainers at various employment settings and physical therapists: A comparison of education, experience, salary, and additional professional standards

Erin Weisz, ATC

Certified athletic trainers work in a wide variety of settings. The hiring criteria for athletic training employees may vary dependent on the setting and position. The current study investigates trends and similarities in hiring qualifications among clinic, clinic with outreach, high school, and college athletic training settings as found in job postings on the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) career site. Qualifications examined include education, work experience, and certification/licensures. Additionally as physical therapists report a larger annual salary than certified athletic trainers, a comparison to determine any professional deficiencies in the athletic training occupation is warranted. The current study also provides a comparison of athletic training hiring qualifications to physical therapy hiring qualifications as found in job postings on the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) career site.

Nursing

Physical Activity and Stress in Undergraduate Nursing Students

Susan L. Garrett, MSN; Deborah Pina-Thomas, MSN; Kerry A. Peterson, PhD, DNP; Melissa J. Benton, PhD Physical activity decreases stress in college students. Among nursing students, stress has been linked to poor critical thinking and impaired learning ability. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the

relationship between physical activity and stress among undergraduate nursing students over the course of one semester. Twelve Junior-level nursing students (age: 21.4 ± 0.3 years) completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire during weeks 2 and 14 of the semester. There was a significant increase in walking (656 ± 243 vs. 2,011 ± 584 MET min/week; P < 0.05) and decrease in stress scores (14.9 ± 2.1 vs. 9.6 ± 1.9; P < 0.05), with trends for increased total activity (2,260 ± 412 vs. 4,126 ± 906 MET min/week; P = 0.052) and physical activity levels (2.2 ± 0.2 vs. 2.6 ± 0.2; P = 0.08). At the beginning of the semester there was no significant relationship between physical activity and stress. At the end of the semester there was a significant relationship between walking and total activity (r = 0.87, P < 0.01), walking and physical activity levels (r = 0.71, P < 0.05), total activity and physical activity levels (r = 0.74; P < 0.01), and physical activity levels and stress (r = -00.61, P < 0.05). In this group of students, stress decreased in relationship to increases in physical activity over the course of a semester. Physical activity may be a feasible intervention to alleviate stress during nursing school.

14 Modification of Obstetric Simulation Scenarios for Fidelity in a Home-Birth Setting

Janelle Komorowski, DNP, RN, CNM

Clinical competency and clear communication are essential for obstetric providers who encounter high-stakes, low-frequency emergencies. The challenge for these providers is to maintain infrequently used skills. The challenge is even more significant for certified professional midwives (CPMs) who manage births at home, and due to low practice volume and low-risk clientele, may rarely encounter an emergency. Access to

simulation is limited for many CPMs. This project modified existing validated obstetric simulation scenarios for post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) and shoulder dystocia (SD) to provide education for CPMs. Fidelity was assessed with the Simulation Design Scale (SDS) and satisfaction and self-confidence were assessed with the Student Satisfaction and Self-confidence in Learning Scale (SSSL). Subscale scores on the SDS [Quality = 4.53 (0.4); Importance = 4.7 (0.4)] indicated that fidelity was maintained for the home birth setting, and subscale scores on the SSSL [Satisfaction = 4.65 (0.4); Self-Confidence = 4.59 (0.4)] indicated high levels of participant satisfaction and self-confidence. Finally, self-confidence specifically regarding clinical management of shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage increased 16% and 18%, respectively (P < 0.05). Simulation scenarios intended for hospital use can be successfully adapted to the home birth setting.

Parental Acceptance/Rejection and the Relationship to Health & Lifetime Experience of Abuse Among Incarcerated Women

Kerry Peterson, PhD, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC; Vanessa Hoener (E.C.), MA, LAC, LPC; Barbara Joyce, PhD, RN, CNS, ANEF; Valerie Sievers, MSN, RN, CNS, SANE-A, SANE-P

There are over 200,000 women incarcerated in United States prisons, representing 8.8 percent of the total American prison population (International Center for Prison Studies, 2014). Approximately 70% of women in the correctional system have minor children (Greenfeild, 1999). Women’s involvement in the criminal justice system often has negative impacts on the well-being of their children. Many women leave prison with few tangible skills and face considerable obstacles once they reenter the community. Women are more likely to recidivate when support services are lacking or inadequate (Johnson, 2009). Therefore, it is important to understand what support services and programs may be beneficial to women in the correctional system. This study utilized the Parental Acceptance Rejection (PAR) Theory (Rohner & Rohner, 1980) to explore parental acceptance and rejection of incarcerated women. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships between PAR and lifetime experience of abuse and documented health status. A retrospective chart audit was conducted in a community corrections setting, and 75 women met criteria for inclusion in the study. Results of this study provide support for programming and education on health related topics, post-traumatic stress, abuse (prevention, early intervention, and recovery), parenting skills, and strengthening relationships that promote well-being and support health.

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College of Business

Marketing, Strategy and International Business

Orphan’s Tree: A Strategic Analysis to Benefit Russian Orphans Michelle Boyea, Joe Lippincott, Perry Erler

The topic of this strategic analysis research project is the local non-profit Orphans Tree, responsible for providing services to orphans in Russia. The Colorado Springs is a market filled with non-profits, and the niche Orphans Tree fills is unique. The goal of this analysis is to further understand the position this non-profit occupies and its strategy for continued growth in a saturated non-profit market. To do this, a stakeholder analysis will be completed on the organization, with emphasis on the different services which have stakeholders both local and foreign. Findings from strategic analyses of industry conditions, resources, and capabilities will also be integrated into our strategic recommendations. The insights gained from these results may be useful in the future strategic positioning of this non-profit organization.

Cross-cultural perceptions Jenna Danielson

While CEOs of major companies operate in an increasingly global business environment, it is well known that public perceptions of individual personality traits and leadership styles differ across international contexts. Furthermore, this globalization of the business environment has increased the importance for CEOs to be able to covey an image of competence and likability in their international business practices. The main purpose of this study will be to compare and contrast how different CEO personalities are perceived across different cultures. For example, individualistic traits are rated highly in the USA, but only average in Brazil. This study will be accomplished by analyzing perceptions of CEOs rated by Americans and comparing these with Brazilian

perceptions. It will focus on individualistic personality traits displayed in Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as well as perceptions of CEO competence and leadership. This study will be conducted by utilizing behavioral

observations of short video clips of CEO interviews. CEO personality surveys will be distributed to a sample of Brazilian and American college students in order to obtain their judgments of the traits of several CEOs. Strategic Management-Goodwill Industries

Camille Dytan, Katrina Romero

Goodwill Industries has long been a nonprofit organization that has been established as a material goods donation site as well as a source for programs and services directed towards the disabled and the economically disadvantaged. This strategic analysis aims to describe some key factors that play a role in Goodwill’s continued success in providing diverse and valuable resources for the communities of Southern Colorado. This paper will also be able to pinpoint certain factors in the industry that may be improved before becoming a potential problem. Analyses in regards to stakeholders, PESTEL, Porter's Five Forces, Key Success Factors, the SWOT, among many others, are conducted to determine the internal and external environments directly and indirectly affecting the organization. To conclude this analysis, recommendations stemming from the team’s quantitative and qualitative analyses will be provided to further improve the standing of Goodwill in the nonprofit sector.

The Personality Behind the Power: Industry-Specific Qualities of successful CEOs Jasmine Krizan

The power and prestige of CEOs is intriguing and alluring to individuals in all fields of business. The personal qualities of these influential figures have long been pondered, and questions still remain as to which qualities are consistent in most CEOs, or which qualities make CEOs successful in certain industry contexts. This study will examine the personality traits of CEOs in specific industries such as technology, food service, and retail, to determine which traits occur most consistently in CEOs belonging to a common industry. After watching a short video clip of a CEO’s interview obtained from an unbiased source, the personality traits of the CEOs will be scored using the Five Factor Model personality assessment. The assessment measures

16 conscientiousness, openness to experience, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The CEOs will then be grouped according to the industry they belong to, and similarities within the groups will be recorded along with differences between the groups. This will distinguish the similarities in personality among most CEOs in general and clarify which characteristics are unique to CEOs in a particular industry.

Strategic Positioning for Customer Acquisition in a Crowded Market: A Strategic Analysis of Gold Camp Brewery

Caytes Liley, Brandon McKenna, David Jacobberger

Gold Camp Brewery is a new business in an almost saturated craft brewery market in the Colorado Springs region. The main problem currently facing Gold Camp is customer acquisition and taking market share within the industry. We examine Gold Camp Brewery and their problem of attracting customers as a startup craft microbrewery. Through extensive use of structured interviews with the owners of Gold Camp, we conduct a strategic analysis of the industry conditions, identifying which industry forces exert the strongest influence over profitability. We also examine the key success factors and use this information to evaluate the

appropriateness of Gold Camp’s existing resources and capabilities for developing a favorable position in the Colorado Springs craft brew market. We find that Gold Camp has several differentiating characteristics that can help them on their path to success. Based on the findings of our strategic analyses, we offer several

recommendations for how Gold Camp may attain their growth goals and obtain a favorable market position. Effect of Positive and Negative Information on CEO’s Perceived Personality

Charles J. MacGregor

The research to be presented will look into the sturdiness of a CEO’s personal image and how perception of a CEO’s personality can be changed when exposed to certain factors. The researcher will utilize 30-40 human, college-aged participants. Each participant will complete a behavioral analysis on a set CEO’s after observing a short interview clip and then be randomly introduced to either positive or negative information of each CEO and, once again, watch the interviews and complete another behavioral analysis. It is the belief of the researcher that the perceived personality of the CEOs will show stronger negative trends when participants are exposed to negative stimuli about the CEOs than positive trends when participants are exposed to positive stimuli.

Innovating the Process of Delivering Clean Water to Developing Regions: A Strategic Analysis of LifeWater International

Austin Mallory, Kristen Lewis, Alisa McGoughey

LifeWater International is an organization that functions by using donated funds to build wells and

pumps for communities around the globe that do not have access to clean water. The purpose of this research is to analyze the operations of a non-profit organization, LifeWater International, in order to identify key points that the organization is doing well, and hopefully find some plausible areas of improvement. The chairman of the board of directors has agreed to provide information needed to analyze the organization and acquire the necessary data. We have discovered that the organization does not have many outside influences other than limited cases of high-profile donors, but more importantly, foreign governments. Not all governments are willing to allow LifeWater International to help their people, and the organization would be pleased to work inside some of these currently hostile regions. In addition to this, the domain of LifeWater International’s operations often include systems that either do not have the funds or values to provide its people with clean water. These systems have a tendency to be unstable, exposing the organization to uncertainty of future political movement. This gives our team a particular interest in the political risk that this organization faces on a daily basis. This research intends to identify many of these risks and construct a solution to some of these developing problems. The CEO Tell

Mischa Smith

Is it possible to observe someone briefly and identify whether they have a rare dispositional

constellation of traits driving them toward positions of power and influence? The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of psychopathic and sociopathic behavioral tendencies in CEOs and how these behaviors may influence their success in the business world. I hypothesize that CEOs with certain Big Five personality

17 profiles will demonstrate psychopathic and sociopathic behaviors, and these behaviors will help them to ascend to positions of power in large and prestigious companies. In order to test the hypothesis, videos will be observed of interviews conducted with a variety of CEOs from different companies. Narrow facets of the Big Five

personality traits will be evaluated using FFM-RF and a thin slice approach to behavioral observation. I will also investigate the personal lives of these CEOs using publicly available sources in order to identify signs of

sociopathic or psychopathic behaviors.

Personalities, Educational Histories, and Political Contributions Stephany Trzos

The present study has been designed to investigate the relationships between perceived personalities, educational histories, and political contributions of the CEOs of various large companies. Video recordings of CEO interviews were used to analyze personality through behavioral displays. Specifically, participants rated CEOs on spectrums of the Big Five personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion,

agreeableness, and neuroticism. Data related to the CEOs’ educational histories and political contributions were obtained from secondary sources and subsequently integrated into the present research. Ultimately, the chosen measures of individuality (personalities, educational backgrounds, and political contributions) will explore correlations between the professional and personal lives of CEOs, and thus, the results of this study may have future implications with regard to evaluations and enhancements of CEO selection processes and job roles. The Mud and The Blood and The Beer: A Strategic Analysis of Great Storm Brewery

Ryan Weber, Steven Madison, Kelly Sardella

This strategic analysis report examines Great Storm Brewery, a microbrewery in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Coors, Budweiser, and Corona are usually what comes to mind for most people when asked about beer companies. These are the big names when it comes to beer and breweries, however times are changing. In 2013 craft beer made up 7.8 percent of the beer industry’s market share by volume in the U.S.; which is up from 4.04 percent in 2008. Being just one of the over twenty breweries in the city, Great Storm is up against its fair share of competitors. This report dissects the microbrewery industry in Colorado Springs, the business strategy Great Storm practices, and it’s competitive advantage. Just brewing good beer isn’t enough to set you apart in the microbrewery industry. We also took a look at deep parts of Great Storm’s business strategy including their atmosphere, reputation, and creative intuition. In our research, we found what sets Great Storm apart from its competitors and came up with solutions that will leave them behind.

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College of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Electrical and Computer Engineering

A Statistical Attack on the Substitution Cipher with Lempel-Ziv Compressed Plaintext Parker Boyce and Dr. Willie Harrison

Theoretical security research often makes the assumption that plaintext to be encrypted can be made to approximate a uniform distribution, where characters are independent of other surrounding characters, through modern compression algorithms. If this were true, then statistical attacks on the ciphertext would be ineffective. However, in practice, there does not exist a universal compression algorithm that can efficiently compress text all the way to its entropy. In this work, we explore one case of this truism using the Lempel-Ziv compression algorithm and the substitution cipher. This cipher has been broken for a long time due to its vulnerability to statistical language attacks. In our setup, we first compress modern English text, and then encrypt the data. We present a novel attack that exploits the joint compression and language statistics, and we show that although the text is first compressed, the compression algorithm effectively leaves its fingerprint on the data so that the cryptographic layer can still be successfully attacked.

Active Network Topology Inference using Variable Length Network Coding Greg Larmore and Dr. Willie Harrison

This project presents a technique for active network tomography that achieves perfect, deterministic topology inference. With many other topology inference techniques there is a need for bidirectional

communication, unicast transmission, or multiple probes through the network. Many also require synchronization or feedback between nodes within the network. The technique herein utilizes a single unidirectional probe and does not require any additional synchronization or feedback between nodes beyond the transmission of probe messages through the network. By utilizing a variable length network code, it allows each node participating in a probe to determine the network traversed from the source of said probe.

Additionally, when node anonymity is not required, broadcast transmissions can be utilized by intermediate nodes allowing for simplified transceiver hardware for wireless networks.

Real-Time Adaptable Coding for Arbitrarily Changing Binary Symmetric Channels Sam Schmidt and Dr. Willie Harrison

In this work, an adaptive convolutional coding system for arbitrarily changing binary symmetric channels (BSC) is presented. The channel to be considered is the hard-decision fading channel with Gaussian noise, which can be accurately modeled as an arbitrarily changing BSC, where bits are flipped with a certain probability as a function of the fading coefficient plus Gaussian noise. The system uses a series of convolutional encoders with differing rates and will dynamically switch between them as the severity of the fading in the channel increases and decreases. Knowledge of the channel is obtained at the transmitter through a feedback training message sent from the receiver. At the receiver, an innovative decoding method based on the well-known Viterbi algorithm is used. The decoding method does not require the receiver to have any knowledge of the channel or code transitions, due to its ability to seamlessly track the encoder’s transitions through an expanded Viterbi trellis. This system supplies the end users with a hassle-free solution to maximizing throughput in a practical setup without reducing the reliability of the point-to-point communications.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Fluid and Heat Transfer Characteristics of High-Velocity Hydrogen through an Open-Cell Geometry with Heat Addition

Mario Arias

An alternative to the common combustion rocket engine is a beamed-energy rocket engine. If

19 current state of the art engines, increasing the payload potential. The engine would have high-velocity

hydrogen flow through a heat exchanger placed on the rocket, in order to transfer beamed-energy from a ground-based source to the fuel. The hot gas would then flow through a converging-diverging nozzle, much like a standard rocket engine. The heat exchanger would be composed of 1 mm pore diameter open-cell metal foam. This research aims to characterize the thermal and fluid behavior of hydrogen through the open-cell foam when a 10 MW beamed energy source is applied. The exit temperatures and flow rates achievable with this heat exchanger are reported.

Combustion and Flame Image Processing and Analysis Jeffrey Baston, Bret Windom

This research examines the properties and effects of Low Temperature Combustion Chemistry (LTC) on the turbulent flame burning characteristics of preheated liquid fueled flames. A burner designed to replicate the turbulent mixing and combustion of a high speed combustor acted as a controlled environment to study n-heptane/air turbulent flames. n-Heptane was the chosen fuel as it experiences similar low temperature and high temperature chemical pathways to that of our real transportation fuels. Instantaneous images detailing the turbulent flame structure were collected using a technique called planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) imaging. The images, which were collected using a high speed laser/camera combination, identify the location of the flame edge marked by the emission of excited Hydroxyl radicals (OH*) which are only present in the

combustion products. Raw PLIF images of the flame are currently being analyzed in MATLAB to determine flame edge lengths and local turbulent flame structures. The algorithm being developed incorporates advanced noise filtering and edge detection schemes. A fast Kuwahara filtering technique is applied to remove random noise related to the data collection while maintaining the edge integrity. The flame edges from the filtered images are then detected using a Canny edge detection scheme. Additional processing is applied to fill in gaps and remove spurious edges leaving behind a very accurate description of the flame location. To date, edges have been determined on a series of flames which have allowed for the calculation of average turbulent flame speeds and average flame lengths.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ryan Bell, Stefan Doucette

With the industry of drone application in its infancy, autonomous vehicles have become increasingly prevalent. In order for UCCS to become a completive university that is capable of developing unmanned aircraft systems, a stable, modular, and reusable platform is necessary. This initial platform will become the foundation of future research, including bio-inspired design, environmental awareness, and swarm dynamics. With the objective to create an adaptable platform, current progress has been made to standardize programming methods, sensor telemetry, and communication protocols. This vehicle control system could be implemented on either air or ground based platforms, depending on future UCCS research requirements.

Measurement of Vaporization Enthalpy of Complex Fuels Using Distillation Curves Stephen Burke, Bret Windom

During the vaporization process of a fuel droplet, the composition is constantly changing as the fluid is being distilled. This results in transitioning thermo-physical and chemical properties of the fluid, which must be accounted for to accurately simulate the droplet regression and the combustion of the vapor phase. Typical vaporization models assume constant properties, primarily because of the lack of data available for complex fuels as a function of fluid distilled. One particular property of interest in describing the vaporization of a fluid is the enthalpy of vaporization (Hfg). Assuming an ideal gas, the Clausius-Clapeyron equation can be rewritten to provide an expression for Hfg. Based on this derived expression, Hfg can be determined with the knowledge of the fluid’s vapor liquid equilibrium (VLE) at varying pressures. A variable pressure distillation apparatus is used as an analog for droplet vaporization and is applied in concert with thermodynamic principles to evaluate the evolving enthalpy of vaporization as function of volume distilled. This novel technique is applied to determine the varying Hfg of diesel fuel and is validated by comparing values determined using a previously published compositional based technique. Initial data has demonstrated the potential of a variable pressure distillation

20 curve approach to determine the enthalpy of vaporization of a fuel as a function of volume distilled. Validation was performed via a previously developed technique providing similar results.

Investigation of the Combustion of Endothermic Fuels Using a Counterflow Flame Burner Colin Curtis, Rose Szczur, Bret Windom

Liquid propelled propulsion systems, which range from rocket systems to hypersonic scramjet and ramjet engines, require active cooling in order to prevent additional payload requirements. In these systems, the liquid fuel is used as a coolant and is delivered through micro-channels that surround the combustion chambers, nozzles, as well as the exterior surfaces in order to extract heat from these effected areas. During this process, heat exchange occurs through phase change, sensible heat extraction, and endothermic reactions experienced by the liquid fuel. Previous work has shown that endothermic reactions have a significant effect on the structure and the physical properties of the fuel, such as volatility, density, viscosity, and speed of sound. The effect that these changes have on the combustion behavior of the reacting mixture has not been experimentally measured. The goal of our research is to experimentally investigate the effect that endothermic reactions have on fundamental flame behavior for real fuels that are used as rocket and jet propellants. In order to achieve this goal, we have developed a counterflow flame burner in order to measure extinction limits, extinction strain rates, and laminar flame speeds. The counterflow system will be coupled with a high pressure reactor which will simulate the extreme environment that causes the liquid fuel to experience endothermic reactions. Ultimately, the fundamental flame properties of the reacted fuels will be compared to those of unreacted fuels, thus allowing us to determine the effect endothermic reactions have on the combustion behavior of liquid rocket and jet propellants.

Variation of Flow Properties During a Pressurized Vessel Discharge Aida Ferro Ardanuy and James W. Stevens

This paper reports a study of a pressurized flow from a finite tank. The research will analyze the evolution of this flow over time and consider the three most important regimes: a choked condition, an unchoked compressible condition and incompressible flow condition.

Solar Cell Augmentation with a Compound Parabolic Concentrator Meghan Smith and James W. Stevens

Compound Parabolic Concentrators (CPCs) utilize a parabolic geometry to create a higher concentration of sunlight projected onto a surface. This work seeks to quantify the improvement in performance of a

photovoltaic (PV) solar cell by utilizing a CPC to increase the total incident sunlight on the PV cell surface. This higher concentration of light results in higher output energy from the cell than would be seen from an un-aided cell. The CPC for this project was created by cutting material from a flat reflector in such a way that when the cut edges were rejoined, the reflector would fold into an approximate CPC shape.

Development of the Dynamic Stereoscopic Long Range System to Analyze Flock Behavior and Formation for the Control of Robotic Swarms

Corbin Spells

The Dynamic Stereoscopic Long Range System (DSLRS) has been developed to offer an engineering perspective on the behavior of herds and flocks of animals for bio-inspired engineering applications. The system provides the relative spacing and velocity of each member within a herd or flock. The DSLRS employs two fixed cameras which simultaneously capture stereoscopic image pairs. These image pairs are analyzed using

automated software algorithms developed in this work to produce spacing data up to a range of 350 meters. Eventually, the spacing and velocity data acquired by the DSLRS will aid in the development of a control algorithm for robotic swarms based on biological behavior. A control algorithm for automated robotic swarm operation will reduce or eliminate the human element in the control loop. For instance, estimates for the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation show that continuous, human-in-the-loop space operations from the ground costs up to 85 percent of the overall budget for the GPS space mission architecture. An intelligent system, with the ability to assess situations and react based on biological instincts, may address a critical need in